In a significant legal move, the Prosecutor’s Office in Budapest’s 5th and 13th District has filed charges against Mayor Gergely Karácsony for organizing the Pride March held on June 28, which went ahead despite an official ban by local authorities. The charges claim that Karácsony knowingly violated a police order by promoting the event on social media without contesting the prohibition through legal channels. Prosecutors are seeking a fine rather than pursuing a criminal trial for the mayor’s defiance.
Karácsony has openly acknowledged the facts stated in the charges and emphasized his commitment to advocating for freedom and expression, declaring in a social media post that such charges will not deter him from his stance. He further insisted on a trial to present his argument that love and freedom should not be subject to legal repression.
The legal basis for these charges lies in Hungary’s 2025 legislation alongside an April constitutional amendment, which collectively banned all LGBTQ+ public events. The ban was justified by authorities citing the need to protect children and maintain public order. An anti-LGBT+ assembly was prioritized over the Pride March as a result of conflicting objectives, reinforced by the late notification from Pride organizers. Hungary’s Justice Minister Bence Tuzson communicated with EU officials, underscoring the legality of the ban, which was not directly contested by Karácsony.
In contrast, the European Court of Human Rights has previously invalidated similar laws prohibiting Pride parades in other countries such as Poland, Russia, and Lithuania. These rulings add a layer of international legal scrutiny to Hungary’s approach toward LGBTQ+ events.
The charges against Karácsony have sparked various reactions. Cristian González Cabrera of Human Rights Watch has called on the European Commission to condemn Hungary’s laws, urging for actions under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union to consider suspending Hungary’s EU membership rights. This case comes amid broader criticisms from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and multiple EU member states who have described the laws as discriminatory and contrary to the bloc’s core values.
The unfolding legal battle touches on critical themes of freedom and human rights within the European Union, with implications that could resonate across the continent as Hungary navigates its relationship with EU principles and regulations.
Read more details about the case on JURIST.